Effective September 12, 2011, all attorneys are required to file all documents with the Court through the Texas.gov electronic filing system.
To use the electronic filing system you must first choose an electronic filing service provider and register. Please choose an electronic filing service provider and register today!
Through the Texas.gov filing system, you can electronically file documents, pay your fees, and serve opposing counsel. Please remember to send two paper copies of petitions, responses, and replies to petitions, four copies of briefs on the merits, and one copy of the record in an original proceeding.
For more details, see the Electronic Filing Rules for the Supreme Court of Texas. For more information about creating electronic briefs, please read this A Guide to Creating Electronic Appellate Briefs. You can also watch a video that shows step-by-step instructions for using Adobe Acrobat to create an electronic brief.
Composed of the Chief Justice and eight Justices, the Supreme Court of Texas is the court of last resort for civil matters in the State of Texas. The Supreme Court is in Austin, next to the State Capitol.
The Justices of the Supreme Court are elected to staggered six-year terms in state-wide elections. When a vacancy arises the Governor may appoint a Justice, subject to Senate confirmation, to serve out the remainder of an unexpired term until the next general election. All members of the Court must be at least 35 years of age, a citizen of Texas, licensed to practice law in Texas, and must have practiced law (or have been a lawyer and a judge of a court of record together) for at least ten years (see Tex. Const., Art. 5, Sec. 2).
By statute the Court has administrative control over the State Bar of Texas. Tex. Gov't Code § 81.011. The Court is also the sole authority for licensing attorneys in Texas and appoints the members of the Board of Law Examiners which administers the Texas bar examination. Tex. Gov't Code §§ 82.00, 82.004.
The Court promulgates the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, the Texas Rules of Appellate Procedure, the Texas Rules of Evidence and other rules and standards.
Latest News & Updates
- Recently Released Orders & Opinions
- Chief Justice Jefferson Response to Request to Suspend Uniform Forms Task Force Work for State Bar Review. [State Bar President Bob Black Letter]
- Amended Order on Rules Addressing Lien Foreclosures Issued December 30
- Court's Liaison Assignments Effective January 1
- Performance Report for 2010-11 Term [Chief Justice Jefferson's Letter to the Governor and Legislative Budget Board]
- Final Approval of Rules Amendments for Service, Citation
- Rules Amendments for State Actions Involving Parent-Child Relationships
- Bar Foundation Grant to Enable Online-Search Capabilities For Texas Court Rules
- Judge Specia To Be Awarded Brazelton Infant Mental Health Advocacy Award
- Task Force Appointed for Expedited-Actions Rules
- Local Rules for Texas Courts Now Available on Court's Web Site
- Recent Court News & Advisories [Archives]
To view or print PDF files you must have the Adobe Acrobat® reader. This software may be obtained without charge from Adobe. Download the reader from the Adobe Web site.
Updated: 03-Feb-2012
